CANNONSBURG TOWNSHIP, MI -- Reese Bowden watched as members of the Cannonsburg ski patrol descended the face of the facility's main hill with flared torches and David Johnson, the patrol director, lit a ceremonial cauldron.

The Friday scene at the opening ceremony of the inaugural Meijer Winter State Games of Michigan cued fireworks and set free the anticipation of athletes from across the state who have converged on West Michigan on Friday to participate in the 12-sport amateur competition.

“It is like our own, hometown Olympics,” said Bowden a snowboarder who participated in the Big Air Exhibition that kicked off the games. “We just want to get out there, put down some clean runs and have some fun.”

Bowden, 19, of Ada, was joined by Grand Rapids' Jaime Charron, 18, Spring Lake's Tanner Berg, 20, and Cedar Springs’ Brad Doren, 21, in putting on an athletic show after the opening show.

“We only get two runs, so you want to play it safe, but at the same time, you also want to put it all on the line,” Doren said. "We have some really talented riders out here that are ready to throw down, so it should be an interesting weekend."

More than 1,500 athletes of all ages are taking part in the games, which include archery, skiing, snowboarding, fat-tired biking, snowshoeing, speed skating and wrestling. The competition follows in the footsteps of the state summer games.

"We have had successful summer games for four years, and the timing was right to install the winter games," said Mike Guswiler, president of the West Michigan Sports Commission which coordinates the games. "We want people to see it as a healthy competition, but also as a fun opportunity to get out in these winter months and enjoy it."

Meijer Co-Chairman Doug Meijer commended the talented athletes, those that will root them on this weekend and the people behind the games.

"This event evokes a sense of community and pride for all participants, as well as the thousands of spectators that attend," Meijer said. "Hopefully there is enough snow to go around."

The games will take place around the region at 15 different sites, ranging from Cannonsburg to Walker and Wyoming.

Jonathan Van Zytveld is a writer for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at jvanzytv@mlive.com, and follow him on Twitter.